The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-24
A HlNDOO FESTIVAL.
A Celebration Which Took Place Oh
the Banks of the Gnnges.

the Banks of the Ganges.
spoke of the festival for which the
people were preparing ut the time OF
our entrance into Benares; it was to be
held at night OH the Gauges. and was
but one of the forty Hindoo and Mo-
hammedan melas held every year in
Benares. This we were told, was the
Burwa-Mangal melu held on the river
on the Tuesday after what is called the
Holt festival. We thought we should
like to witness this sight. and so pro-
ceeded about 9 T. NJ. from our hosts
house in the cantonment 70 the city.
We were greatly impressed with ey-
erything we saw: the rivers bank
seemed to be crowded with human be-
ings. duskv themselves in hue. but
dressed in garments Of many colors;
and we proceeded down one of the
many CHATS through this mass of hui
manly to the rivers brink and stepped
into II gayly-caparisoncd boat. where
we were received by n iIind0o baboo
who had invited several OF the English
residents to see the tamasha. and who
had provided lemonade, champagne,
cakes and ices for his guests This
gentleman, short in stature, was dress
ed in Il long blue velvet coat aud white
trousers. and wore blue cap with u
triangular tail suspended from the
back. while on his eyes he had dark
colcred spectacles. | must confess |
was not charnrl with his appearance.
The boat itself looked very gay with its
yellow and red cloths flags, etc, and
music enlivencd us rs we e...crcd
Very soon we were surrounded by other
boats. some OF which were more gaudily
attired than ours, that of the IA iah OF Be
mares having marble top and another
boast IN immense peacock with spread
tail at its bow. Several of the boats
had lower stories surmoWted by high
er ones, which were covered with richly
colored canopies, and on which sat or
squatted natives in every variety of
dress and undress. Our boat was pro-
PEELED by apaddle which was worked
by men rs on tread-mll, some chang
ing with others as these were weary,
and for some hours we were taken up
and down the river getting of course,
magnificent view OF the city by night.
with its various temples snd CHATS. and
its crowds of people. At the burning
CHATS dead bodies were being consum.
ell, so that their ashes might mingle
with the waters of the holy river. After
midnight two Nautch girls came on
board, each accompanied by four men.
who made most amusing gestures rs
they followed up the dancing girls, with
rude music and singing, one man, clad
entirely in yellow and beating n tom
tom. was particularly entertaining. He
would hum and then give grunt, rs
his whole body seemed to perform what
he was playing with MS hands. The
girls were beautifully dressed, and
sometimes sang rs they danced. going
up to one and another of the party
assembled. Ii was impossible to look
on them without pity, brought up TO Il
life Of debauchery and dedicated 10 the
service of these temples, which really
means of the priests of the temples.
These for many years were the only
girls that were allowed to learn TO read
and write. and thus arose the feeling
which still largely exists. that it is "A
disgrace for n girl to be able TO press
q STYLE upon palm leaf Christian.
ity and civilization are alternating
these things now. and the day is pass
ing away when the Nautch girl alone OF
her sex may be educated. - Sunday
Magazine.